Homemade patch cables for your pedalboard?

[Occam]

What did you use and how did it work out? Any tips to smooth out the process? I want to re-cable a few of my boards with all custom length stuff and I want soldered connections.

[thealmightycapo]

I used Lava Mini ELC cable and two different types of connectors: GLS Pancake plugs and Switchcraft 380 plugs for my looper connections. Definitely make sure you have the basic tools for doing work like this: Good iron, a station where you can rest the iron when not in use, a sponge to clean the tip, and a small clamp to hold the cable and plugs while soldering. And of course a good sharp knife or razor to strip and cut with. All in all, it's worth it, and much cheaper, and for me it was fun, as I'm somewhat of a novice at it all. You can't go wrong with the products I used, the Mini ELC sounds excellent and the GLS plugs are well made. It's nice to have a clean, custom fitted solution that has all the security and peace of mind of soldered connections.

[jnepo1]

GLS pancake plugs, 380 straight plugs, and Mogami 2319. Make sure to use heat shrink tubing on the 380 plugs, as they don't have cable retainers.

[Hector Arcadius]

Anyone has gone with the Bullet Slug Kit? The solderless method looks extremely appealing, but I'm wondering if there are any tone / reliability issues...

[lonetone483]

i have not tried the Bullet Slug kit but i have been a George L's kit guy for many years. While George L's are good quality and relatively easy to make I myself at this point am going in the direction of the OP's question. I want to make some cables with good high quality cables and small, space saving plugs with soldered ends. I figure if I can spend all the money I have spent already on building up my current boutique rig I can take the time and make me some high quality, reliable cables.

Lava Cable has a soldered and solder less kit and they have some new pancake style jacks also that look promising.

http://www.lavacable.com/index.php?id=139

http://www.lavacable.com/index.php?id=4

[fulltone1989]

Originally Posted by jnepo1

GLS pancake plugs, 380 straight plugs, and Mogami 2319. Make sure to use heat shrink tubing on the 380 plugs, as they don't have cable retainers.

Oh yeah! I did the same thing but used 2425 instead out of preference. You can't really go wrong with this route: Cheap and sounds great.

I also used silver flux and solder when building them, it was a bit harder to work with but overall I thought silver was better for audio applications.

[Occam]

Lava has some new cable coming out for pedalboards and I'm considering going with that since they have everything. Anybody else tried anything else or with anything else to add?

[jnepo1]

Originally Posted by Occam

Lava has some new cable coming out for pedalboards and I'm considering going with that since they have everything. Anybody else tried anything else or with anything else to add?

It's not new cable, but plugs that need soldered connections. They are similar in size and appearance as their solder less plugs but are for soldered connections.

[Non-Digital Tom]

But EJ says the solder's a tone killer...



Just kidding!

[ibegofyou]

Soldered is the way to go. I like the pancake plugs from Orange Co Speaker and Lava Mini ELC.